journal of the Lepidopterists' Society .57(3), 2003, 193- J91J

THE BIOLOGY OF LEUCOPHLEGMA (STICHEL, 1910) () IN WESTERN

CURTIS JOHN CALLAGHAN Ave. Suba 130-25 Casa 6, Bogota,

ABSTRACT. The immature biology and ovipositing behavior of Melanis lel1cophlegma (Stichel, 1910) (Riodinidae) from western Peru is discussed for the first time, The food plant of M. lel1cophlegrna is Inga fel1illei DC, a cultivated tree. The gregarious larvae were observed to have two color morphs during the third and fourth instars. Total development time from egg to adult was S weeks. Additional key words: Neotropical, .

The riodinid gcnus Melanis contains 28 species the study, six larvae in various instars and 32 eggs were (Callaghan & Lamas in press). It is distributed from collected on the food plant and six raised to maturity. to and can be quite common. The Larvae were raised on food plant in plastic containers butterBies are black with elongated forewings, some­ that were numbered with a reference code to record times with a subapical band, and variable orange, larval development. I examined eggs and larvae with a white or red markings on the margins and base of both binocular microscope. Larvae, head capsules and wings (Fig. 2) . The center of diversity of the is eggshells were preserved in Pembel's solution (glacial from the southern Amazon basin through southeastern acetic acid, formalin and ethanol) and adults spread or to and Argentina. Only three species left in papers. Voucher specimens are in the collection are found north of . The genus belongs to the of the author. tribe Grote, 1895. Obselvations on the life histories of Melanis species RESULTS are few. Food plant records exist for seven taxa; Mela­ Description of immature stages. Egg: Diameter 0.6 mm, nis pixe (Boisduval, 1836), M. electron auriferax height 0.3 mm (n = 8). Color light green when laid, some with a ring of maroon colored scales cil'c1ing the micropyle, and a maroon spot (Stichel, 1910), M. aegates cretiplaga (Stichel, 1910), on the micropyle. Variable maroon markings increase as eggs ma­ M. hillapana form impura (Stichel, 1910), M. xarifa ture. Surface covered by a network of hexagonal figures , with a small protmsion at each intersection point. Duration: S days (n = 32). (Hewitson, [1853)) and M. electron (Fabricius,l793). First instar: Length O.S mm upon hatching, to 4.0 mm before However, notes on larval morphology and behavior ex­ molt, head capsule width 0.3 mm (n = S). Larva yellow iilitially, later ist for only one species, M. pixe (DeVries 1997). The uniform light green. Head light brown with short setae, mostly on the frontal region. Prothoracic shield raised with 12 long setae ex­ present article adds another species to the growing tending over head, six on each side, with lateral spiracle and two body of information on the biology of Melanis, and of short setae below prothoracic sh ield. T2It3-AS with two dorsal tu­ riodinids in general. bereles on each segment, with 8- 10 short setae on each: laterally three long and many short setae arise from the base of each segment. Material in the collection of the Museo de Historia A9/10 with numerous long caudal setae on the anal plate; spiraeles Natural, Universidad Nacional Mayor de San Marcos, on A2-AS. Duration: 7 days (n = 23). in Lima, Peru suggest that the range of Melanis leu­ Second instar: Length 4.0-7.0 mm before molt, head capsule width 1.0 mm (n = 4). Color light green, slightly darker dorsally with cophlegma is from western Ecuador and Peru to Lima, hlack markings. Head dark green with white setae. On TI, protho­ from sea level to 1300 m. In Lima the Bight period is racic shield divided into two separate yellow tuberdes with a black confined to the sunny summer months of December spot and rosette of short, hristly setae on each, and numerous long setae extending over head. T2!f3 to AS with two separate black tu­ through March, and the can become quite bercles with a rosette of short bristly black setae; in a few individu­ common around urban areas where the food plant is als, tubercles connected with transverse black bar. Segments pro­ cultivated. Like most other non-myrmecophilous lar­ trude laterally at base, from which extend many long white setae intfmpersed with bristly short black setae. A9/lO with short anal vae, those of M. leucophlegrna are gregariOUS and have plate with scattered black setae dorsally and numerous long caudal long lateral setae which serve as protection against ants setae. Duration: 9 days (n = IS ). and other predators. These do not protect them from Third instar (Figs. 3,4): Length 7.0 to 10.0 mm before molt, heau capsule width 1.6 mm (n = 6). Two color morphs observed, being parasitized by Hymenoptera (Ichneumonidae), with n to A91l0 light brown (Fig. 4) or light green (Fig. 3) with a however, which serves as an effective biological control frequency of about .50% of each. Color of head light green, protho­ (G. Lamas pers. com.). racie shield on Tl divided into two separate prominent lumps, each with a black spot and a rosette of setae and a group oflong setae pro­ MATERIALS AND METHODS jecting cephalad over head. Behind thoracic shield is light brown or green ridge along separation with T2. T2/A8 with two separate tu­ Observations on Melanis leucophlegma adults and bercles as on second instar; lateral protnlsions prominent with many immature stages were made in the gardens of the short black-tipped and long white setae at base. Spiracles tan. Dura­ tion: 9 days (n = 9). Museo de Historia Natural, Universidad Nacional Fourth instar (Figs. 4, 5, 6 ): Length 10.0- 15.0 mm before molt, Mayor de San Marcos, in Lima, Pen:'!. In the course of head capsule width 2.1 mm (n = 6). Head light green. Larva color on 194 Jo HNAL 0 TIlE LEPIDOPT ,lUSTS' SOCIETY

FlGs . 1- 9. 1, L aves of foodplant, Inga feuillei. 2, M. Zeucopldegmrt illl"lgOS, mal (l ft ) alld female, 'x larva. 3, Third instal' larva, gre n fon 1 . 4, Fourth instal' larva, gr en and bro'vvn forms, and a brown third instar. 5, Ylature fOllrth instal' larva, gre n torm. 6, Maturt fourth in­ tar larva, brown form. 7, Fifth instar larvae. 8, Pupa, dorsal vi ew. 9, Pupa, lat "' ral view.

Tl through TIO liaht (fr en ( Fi~ . .5 ) or light brown (Fig.6), morphs lin S; lateral protmsions black at nlargins with s tac as on third instal'. o . 'U1Ti llg ill sam proportion as third instal'. On Tl prothoracic Juncture of scgm "nts light yellow. A9/10 with a black tr3.l1svers '· lin shi Id clh 'ded into two separate yellow or light bro'vVll lobes, nwre aeros' anal plate; spiracl s brown. Duration: 7 clays (n = 9). longatecl than in third instar and a hlack spot ill th cent r 'v\lith Fifth instar (FiO'. 7): Length 15 ..3 mrn to 22.0 nHB, head L', 'tll light grc n or brown transv rs line on union witll T2. Dor­ nlol1)h, was mottled light gray-O'reell with black dots and yellow-white SIIIll of' s m) ts T2- A8 as in previolls instars; a whit -pink spot markings. Head light mottled brown. On T 1 prothoracic shieh1 rills d ahove spiracles on each s gmeI1t giving appearance of dorsolateral into two separate.>, light brown Hanaes, each cmer d with shott black VOLUME 57, NUMBER 3 195

setae surrounding a short hlack line; flanges bordered posteriorly hy a TABLE 1. Foodplant records for Melanis. wide black transverse line; long setae project over head. Dorsally T2-A8 raised into two separate tubercles with a small hlack spot sur­ Specics Food plant Reference rounded by short black tipped setae and connected by a thin trans­ verse blaek line; a broken, white to yellow dorsolateral line at base of Mpixe fnga sp. (Fabaceae) DeVries 1997 tubercles; lateral protrusions at base of segments darker brown than in M. pixe Pithecellobium sp. DeVries 1997 previolls ins tars and pointed; at base of segment a cluster of short (Fahaceae) black tipped setae with a black dot in the middle, and long white se­ M. pix!? Tnga sp. (Fabaceae) DeVries 1997 tae. Segments separated by dark gray line. Spiraeles light brown. Anal M. pixe Pithecellobium dulce Powell 1975 plate rounded, outlined in black with a transverse black bar and nu­ (Fabaceae) merous long caudal setae. Prepupa: Larva turned uniform light green M. pixe Albizia cadbea (Fabaceae) DeVries 1997 with brown spiracles. Duration: 6-8 days; prepupa 2 days (n ~ 7). M. aegates Pithecellobium sealare Hayward 1973 Pupa (Figs. 8, 9). Length 13- 14 mm; maximum width 5 mm (n ~ cretiplaga (F' abaceae) 6). Shape cylindtical for most of length, with a slight hump at Al and M. hillapana Pithecellobillm hassled J¢rgensen 1932 a slightly bifurcated crest OIl 1'1 ; cremaster attached to a silk pad and impura (Fabaceae) girdle crossing at AI. Color light green, thoracic crest white with two M. xarila fnga sp. (Fabaceae) Kaye 1921 black spots on each side; light brown spiracles on Tl, A2-A6, and A3 M. electran Eupatorium sp. d'Araujo c Silva under wing cover. Segments A2 through A6 with a pair of black and auriferax (Asteraeeae) et a!. 1968 yellow dorsal spots, a small black tubercle ahove each spiracle and two M. leurophlegma ruga feuillei (Fabaceae) present article white spots below; a black lateral spot on each segment posteriorly to M. pTOnostdga Srwwnea sanwn Scott 1986 wing pads with black lines along veins. Eclosion takes place at dawn, (Legumiuosae) which possibly helps to reduce predation. Duration: 10 days (n ~ 6).

DISCUSSION and were not aggressive towards each other. Not only Food plants. The foodplant of Melanis leucophlegma were larvae of differcnt instars kept together in the is Inga feuillei DC. (Fabaceae). This plant species grows same container, but a fifth instar larva was observed into a tree 6--10 m tall and is cultivated for the long, eating around eggs to avoid damaging them. The lar­ bean-like pods that contain brovm seeds covered with vae expelled frass some distance, flipping the end of sweet, white pith, much favored by the local people. The the abdomen in the process. leaves are paired and have a cup-shaped nectary at Third and fourth instars had green and light brown the base (Fig. 1). The distrihution of the food plant is the color mOJ.-phs. However, by the fifth instar, all the lar­ west coast of South America south to lca, Peru, and vae became gray-brown. The reason for the presence throughout the Amazon hasin from sea level to .'3000 m. of different color morphs during the two middle in­ Food plants known for the seven species of Melanis stars is unclear. Many lycaenid species have different are summarized in Table 1. All but two of the known color morphs, hut this is related to the color of the host records are from two plant genera, Inga and plant parts on which they feed, whether flowers or Pithecellobium. These genera belong to the family buds. (Monteiro 1991, Callaghan in press). The phe­ Fahaceae. The records for Eupatoriurn and Sarnanea nomenon is quite common among African lycaenids may he in error and should be reconfirmed. The (Clark & Dickson 1971). To the present, color TIlOJ.-phs recording of M. pixe on more than one plant genus have not been observed among other riodinid butter­ suggests that Melanis species may be polyphagous. flies. I noted no differences in behavior between the Oviposition behavior. Ovipositing behavior was two forms. However, when not feeding, brown larvae observed bctween 1600 and 1730 h. Females circled may he protected by their cryptic coloration by resting the [nga tree, alighting on the ventral leaf surface. on dried leaf spots (Fig. 4) which are quite common, They touched the leaf surface \vith the tip of the ab­ particularly as the leaves become older towards the domen, depositing 1 to 9 eggs on the same leaf, usually end of the growing season. An additional advantage in a cluster. They then flew off to another leaf, repeat­ could be that predators must learn to search for two ing thc process. types of larvae, and not just one, thus possibly lowering Larval habits. The larval development time was predation. ahout .5.5 days from egg to adult. Through the third in­ There is much to be learned about the immature bi­ star, the larva fed on ventral and dorsal leaf surfaces ology of Melanis and riodinids in general and it is between leaf veins. Fourth and fifth instar larvae con­ hoped that this article will stimulate interest in this in­ su mecl the entire leaf including veins, sometimes defo­ teresting group of . liating entire trees. (C. Lamas pers. com.). Larvae left the lcaf to molt, but not to pupate. ACKNOWLEDGMENTS The gregarious larval hehavior described for M. pixe 1 wish to thank Dr. Gel'ardo Lamas of tbe Museo de Historia (DeVries 1997) was also observed in Melanis leu­ Natural, Lima for facilities proVided rllll'iug my stay in Lima and cophlegrna. Larvae of different instars fed together helpful cornments on the paper. The cogent comments by the re- 196 JOURNAL OF THE LEPIDOPTE RISTS' SOCIETY

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